According to thefreegeography, Melilla is an area in northern Africa consisting only of the city of Melilla. Melilla is an autonomous city and an exclave of Spain that only borders Morocco.

Melilla is known as a piece of Europe in Africa. Melilla is separated from Africa by a high wall. This is to prevent fortune-seeking Africans from reaching Europe illegally. Melilla is known for the duty-free sale of e.g. alcohol, cigarettes and perfumes. It is also known for its beautiful sandy beaches, fishing and many diving and sailing facilities.

Where is Melilla located?

Travel information of Melilla

Official name: Melilla
Continent: Europe (politics) and Africa (location)
Area: 12.3 km²
Capital: Melilla
Country code: ES, ESP
Population: 86,384 inhabitants (2018)
Government: Autonomous city of Spain
Highest point: 133 m
Distance (Amsterdam – Melilla): 1,993 km
Flight time: about 3 hours (then boat or plane from Malaga (Spain))

Travel advice
Current status: No special security risks.
Current color code: Green.

Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), (temporary) measures may apply in Melilla that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs of Melilla, please visit Countryaah.

Travel offer
At the moment there are no travel organizations that offer travel to Melilla. If you want to put together your own trip or are looking for separate travel components such as hotels, airline tickets and a rental car, please visit our travel offer page.

Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, walking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Melilla?

Weather and climate
Melilla has a Mediterranean climate. The temperatures are around 25 to 30 degrees in the summer months and around 15 to 20 degrees during the winter months.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Melilla can be found on our extensive weather page.
Detailed information about the climate of Melilla can be found at Climate info.

Best time
June, July, August and September are the best months to travel to Melilla. In these months you have the best chance of summer temperatures.

Language
Spanish is the official language in Melilla.
Would you like to translate from or into Spanish for free? Use the Google translator for this.

Travel documents
You must have a valid identity card or passport.
A visa is not necessary.

Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in Spain (also for Melilla): netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Dutch consulate in Spain (also for Melilla): netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Spanish Embassy in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
Spanish consulates in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.

Vaccination (inoculation)
You do not need any vaccinations for a visit to Melilla.

Money and Currency
In Melilla, payment is made with the euro (EUR).
An overview of all ATMs in Melilla can be found on our ATMs page.

Price level
The prices in Melilla are a lot lower than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is -20% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (24% cheaper), food (25% cheaper), imported beer in catering (42% cheaper), cigarettes (12% cheaper) and public transport (74% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.

Tipping
In Melilla it is customary to tip. Good service is about 5-10% tip.

Time difference
There is no time difference with the Netherlands.
Summer time in Melilla is the same as in the Netherlands.
The local time, date and time zone for Melilla can be found on our time difference page.

Traffic and route
In Melilla you have to drive on the right.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Melilla.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within Melilla.

Electricity
In Melilla the same plugs and sockets are used as in the Netherlands.
More information about electricity in Melilla can be found on our electricity page.

Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 112
– Fire: 112
– Ambulance: 112

Tap water
It is not recommended to drink water from the tap because of the high chlorine content.

News and newspapers
The latest news related to Melilla can be found on Google news.
Online newspaper from Melilla: Melilla Hoy.

Internet
Websites from Melilla end in.es.
Melilla official websites: melilla.es and mellillaturismo.com.

Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Melilla is 0034 or +34.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from Melilla? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Telephone numbers can be found in the Melilla Telephone Directory.
Company details can be found in Melilla’s Yellow Pages.

Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of Melilla.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos of Melilla.

Public holidays and school holidays
An overview of all public holidays in Melilla can be found on Officeholidays.com
An overview of all school holidays in Melilla can be found in the Eurydice school guide.

Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in Melilla, supplemented with photos, videos and places of interest.

Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Melilla?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Melilla. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.

Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Melilla can be found on Protected Planet.
Melilla is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Melilla? On the IATA website you will find an overview with the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol, money and perfume, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.

Entrepreneurship and doing business
If you intend to do business in or do business with Melilla, it is wise to prepare well. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can help you with this. On PaulSourcing.com you will find a large amount of information about Melilla, including: opportunities, import and export rules, trade figures, do’s and don’ts, product requirements, business partners and subsidies.

Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Melilla.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.5 (0.3 for novice drivers up to 2 years old).
– Tobacco: Buying and/or smoking from the age of 18.
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Allowed

Did you know that…
…Melilla’s economy mainly revolves around fishing?
…Melilla is regularly stormed by asylum seekers from Africa?
…Melilla is seen by Morocco as occupied Moroccan territory?
…Melilla is known for its excellent surfing conditions?
…Melilla has its own airport?